Terrorism: How to Respond

by Richard English

Richard English argues here that the post-9/11 War on Terror has spectacularly failed and that we now need a radically new approach to dealing with international terrorism. Recent policies have ignored the lessons of the past, and How to Respond seeks to remedy this lack of vision
by looking at the long history of terrorism and assessing why such violence emerges, how it is sustained, and--most crucially of all--how and why it ends.

Written by an historian who has long studied Irish terrorism and politics, this book argues that we cannot adequately respond to the practical challenge of terrorist violence around the world unless we are more honest about the precise nature of the phenomenon, and about explaining its true and
complex causes. Drawing on first-hand research into terrorist organizations, Richard English offers an authoritative and accessible analysis of arguably the most urgent political problem of the twenty-first century--and how we can successfully respond to it.

Genres: Terrorism, Nonfiction, History, Political Science

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Richard English is a historian from Northern Ireland. He was born in Belfast in 1963. His father, Donald English (1930–1998) was a prominent Methodist preacher. He studied as an undergraduate at Keble College, Oxford, and subsequently at Keele University, where he was awarded a PhD in History. He was first employed by the Politics Department at Queen's University Belfast in 1990 and became a professor in 1999. He is currently teaching at the University of St Andrews.

Reviews

[Yana Shevkirova · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not so sure why this book did not impress me. It just couldn't grab my attention and couldn't answer any of the questions I had on the subject. While it is definitely valuable for all related field studies, it is not a book that contributes with a new understanding of the subject. Nor does it make a clear path within this vast field.
What is positive about it, is that attempt of a well-sourced and well-placed analysis. Being so short, it falls very far from some of the more descriptive accounts I have read on the subject. It gives various considerations, plenty of definitions and examples, while making a short summary out of them.
However, I was left with the feeling that Richard English does attempt to bring about some sort of "summary-definitions" out of the already established ones, while admitting that this does not contribute to better understanding. He also tries to prove his points quite extensively, within lengthy accounts of repetitive explanations. This does make it somewhat difficult to read.
While not being a textbook, but yet an academic account of an expert, not exactly narrow, but not so broad either, it is a book which is incredibly difficult to place in a box.

I do not regret reading it, by any means, but I reckon I will rather use it for reference, than anything else.

[Marwa Mg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is well written, the ideas discussed are interesting and thought triggering as well as the solutions suggested, but there is so much misinformation and that is sad honestly. Terrorism is defined by violence against innocents because of pure evil, or ideology extremism I don't see how resistence for liberty can be qualified as terrorism if a country is colonized and its people are oppressed, killed daily, their freedom is taken from them and so is their land, they're treated like "last" class citizens, then they have every right to resist the apartheid regime they live in.. Terrorism on the other hand needs to be handeled seriously of course and I think that fighting extremism is the answer we should seek a balanced community that can have different ideologies and beliefs but in a moderate and tolerant manner.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read for academic material, but the recommendations a bit simplistic.

[Sam McBratney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly excellent introduction

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone wanted a clear method for defining and understanding terrorism, this is it. It is an academic treatise but Richard English is a wonderful writer who lays out theoretical analysis in the most straightforward and logical manner. He begins by attempting to logically define terrorism, then sets out to understand how terrorist groups work- what rationale guides terror. Finally, he ends by applying the rationale of terror to how to respond to it. He is a quintessential political theorist and a wonderful historian, but he doesn't obfuscate with overly academic language or theories. This book does away with some common wisdom regarding what states often think of terror and terrorists themselves. It also does away with some of the common approaches to foreign relations,namely militaristic response as the first and foremost effective one. I loved his book on the history of the Irish Republican Army and this book was not a disappointment.

[Andy Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor English's worthy polemic on terrorism - who resorts to it and what causes them to do so, and what we should do to manage the threat that arises from it - has been overtaken by events. The optimism that surrounded the paramilitary ceasefires in the north of Ireland, around which Professor English constructs his thesis, has sadly given way to resignation in the face of a stalled political process and the continuing violence of dissident republican groups. At the same time Al Qaeda has been overtaken by the more virulent and repulsive excesses of Islamic State, an organisation with terror at its core and no immediately apparent reason with which Western negotiators could hope to engage

[Rachel 💚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non biased. Covered a lot of different event/groups. Great read from a man who really knows his stuff.

[Allie Funk]

Phenomenal resource on terrorism, its causes, and how to respond. A great book for terrorism scholars and also those new to the field.